Rotten Egg #5 – Water

According to Dietitians of Canada it’s a myth that we need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. I know some water-haters out there who will be jumping up and down right now but before you get too exited, let me explain.

You need ‘fluid’ to stay hydrated and the amount of fluid you need every day depends on your age, gender and activity level. Hot and humid weather can also increase your needs. The beauty of this myth is that ‘fluid’ does not equal water, but can also be: milk, juice, coffee, and tea. Coffee and tea??? Check out Food Yourself’s post “The World’s Most Popular Drug” for more information, but to recap: although caffeine is a mild diuretic, intakes up to 500mg per day do not cause dehydration as often thought.

Water is one of the best fluid choices because it has zero calories, but it’s officially a myth that you need 8 cups of water a day to stay healthy. So, how much fluid do you need? To keep hydrated aim for a fluid intake of: 3 L (12 cups) for men 19 years and over each day and 2.2 L (9 cups) for women 19 years and over each day

Tidbit - you might be thirsty if you can’t stop munching…your body will sometimes trick you in consuming extra foods when all it actual wants is fluid. So, next time you reach for the fridge door grab a glass a water to test this fact.

PS. Please note I did not include alcohol in the list of fluids for a reason…nice try!